11/19/2023 - anubis wrote:

From my fathers underground cellar. Held up very very well for a 26 year old semillon. Cork was good and there was a pop on removal. First smell I could tell it was semillon. Taste also was still semillon but with lots and lots of leather style age. Colour was very dark golden straw.

11/7/2023 - anubis wrote:

Found in my fathers underground cellar. Cork broke and there was no “pop” when extracted. Wine had some bubbles and was at the early stage of turning to vinegar. Poured down the sink.

9/30/2023 - anubis wrote:

Bottle # 840316: Found this in my fathers underground cellar. A vintage from my wife and I wedding year.
Very very slight leakage after taking the cork covering off. Cork came out in one piece with a light pop. Medium to dark ruby red colour with no sediment on pouring. It’s age came through on the nose with little fruit and lots of leather. Initial taste also showed its age, with licorice and dark berries just noticeable with medium length. Certainly past its peak drink by date, but did hold up with the lamb roast.

7/3/2023 - anubis Likes this wine:

Had another bottle with duck confit while my wife had risotto marinara, both dishes went very nice with it. Still had the cloudiness, which is a little off-putting, but my previous tasting notes are still spot on for this bottle. Totally ready to drink now and will definitely hold up for at least the next few years.

1/14/2023 - anubis Likes this wine:

My last of 6. The tannin's are finally integrated. Definitely drink now.

3/26/2022 - anubis wrote:

I agree with Matt about it being full bodied, dark and inky. While decanting, spilt a little on the table. Wiping it off with a paper towel showed just how dark and inky. I thought the tannins were well integrated with the extra 2 years ageing and went perfectly with the (spicy) steak dianne we had it with. One bottle left, I think it's still developing in the bottle, so will mark it to drink in 18 - 24 months time to let the 14.5% alcohol integrate a bit more.

3/30/2022 - anubis Likes this wine:

Tasted over two nights. Aired for 90 minutes, hardly any sediment. Colour and body are on the fuller side for Pinot Noir, which is what draws me to this wine. There was an obvious slight cloudiness to the garnet colour of the wine. Taste is earthy, low (to none) tannins and nicely dry. First night, had it with roast duck. Great pairing. Second night was with beef with butter encrusted dukkah, with the licorice of the wine matching the aniseed of the dukkah. Once again, this shows the wine can be matched with many types of food. My 1st of 4 bottles, love this wine! It's good drinking now, not sure it will develop much more but it will be fun exploring the next 3 bottles over the next 3 to 4 years. 13.0% alcohol.

2/8/2022 - anubis wrote:

10 years old. My last bottle of 12. Probably a good thing too. A lot less "bubbles" with it on the way to turning into a still wine. I could taste the age and I'm not sure it added anything. I am tending towards drinking Black Shiraz's in the 4 to 6 year age. Drink very soon.

10/2/2021 - anubis wrote:

Cork did not "pop" when opened.
Tasted off.

9/17/2021 - anubis Likes this wine:

Tasted 17-Sep-2021: Looks like a synthetic cork with a very hard wax seal. 12.5% Alc; Dry
Very pale clear yellow colour. Popped and poured.
Mineral and floral aromas.
Medium body and smooth shortish length.
Earthy, stone fruit and some mineral taste.
Low to medium acidity.
Drink now but will further develop over the next 5 years.
Food parings: Mustard chicken

10/1/2021 - anubis Likes this wine:

Tasted: 1-Oct-2021; Cork; 16% Alc; Dry
Dark plum colour. Decanted for 30 minutes; No sediment.
Woody, spicy and alcohol on the nose.
Full body. Medium Tannins. Long finish.
Wood, spice and some alcohol comes through with tasting.
Good now and hopefully the alcohol will further integrate over the next few years. Happy with my drink by 2025.
Food parings: Beef with mushroom sauce. Maybe lamb shanks.

9/12/2021 - anubis wrote:

Tasted 11-Sep-2021; Screwcap; 12% Alc; Dry.
Darkish straw color. No sediment. No decanting.
Some woody aroma.
Medium to full body. Will continue to develop more body with aging.
Citrus and some minerality in the taste with a long finish, medium acidity and alcohol well integrated.
Good now, but should develop over next few years.
Food parings: Roast pork. Semi hard cheese like Jarlsberg

7/17/2016 - anubis wrote:

As per other tasting notes, this wine is on the sweet side and hides the riesling to an extent. The label suggests it is just on the dry side. Alcohol level is 8.5%. Between the sweetness and the alcohol level, you could drink this wine all day. I don't see it improving anymore, so drink up. Good with spicy asian/indian food and/or Sunday lunch.

1/11/2014 - anubis Likes this wine:

Has improved over the last few years. Very well balanced. Should be good for another couple of years. [cork, 14.5% alc]

12/22/2012 - anubis Likes this wine:

This wine is always a cut above other (cheaper) sparkling shiraz's. The hint of sweetness, the fine bubbles, and of course the taste make it an outstanding wine. [cork, 13.5% alc]

12/21/2012 - anubis Likes this wine:

Nice taste, body, length and balance. Good drinking now, but will also be good for a number of years to come. [screwcap, 14.5% alc]

12/7/2012 - anubis Likes this wine:

Breathed for 30 minutes. Good fruit and sweetness through mouth. Taste lasts on the back palate. Drinking well now and could improve a little more over the next few years. [cork, 14.5% alc]

9/1/2012 - anubis Likes this wine:

Earthy and aged taste. Good balance and length. Nice. Will keep for another 3 to 5 years at least. [screwcap, 13.5% alc]

8/7/2012 - anubis wrote:

Was not cellared. Cork broke half way out and was very dry. Used for cooking in a pasta sauce and had a glass with dinner. No body or length. Taste was good. [cork, 14.0%alc]

8/5/2012 - anubis Likes this wine:

Very nice with BBQ steak; Good for at least another 2 years. 90% Cab sav, 5% merlot & 5% cab franc. [screwcap 13.5% alc]

6/9/2012 - anubis Likes this wine:

Medium to dark gold in colour. Medium body with good length. Went well with the chicken dish we had. Very good drinking now and should hold up for another two or three years at least. [screwcap]

6/7/2012 - anubis wrote:

Very full body. Lots of mineral. Very dark yellow look. Held up well for its age. [cork, 13.0% alc]

6/5/2012 - anubis Likes this wine:

Lightly oaked, just the way we like it. [screwcap, 13.5% alc]

5/26/2012 - anubis wrote:

Decanted and let sit for 2 hours. Not a lot of standout taste. Still too much tannins. Moving my next drink by date out to next year to let it improve further. [screwcap, 14.0% alc]

3/30/2012 - anubis Likes this wine:

Second of my bottles, last drunk over a year ago and at that time was not impressive. The improvement in this bottle over that last year has been substantial. Subtle fruit on initial taste and medium lasting in the mouth. (screwcap, 14.5%alc)

2/12/2012 - anubis Likes this wine:

Very nice. Not as much body as I remember from the cellar door tasting. Good length and balance. I'm going to knock a year off my drink by date, as I am not sure it is going to develop much more.

2/12/2012 - anubis Likes this wine:

Mmmm, nice again. Only one bottle left. :-(

1/14/2012 - anubis Likes this wine:

This bottle has a butterscotch like flavour. It has improved again in the last 6 months. Unfortunately this was my last so I won't see it improve anymore. Upped my rating another notch.

12/16/2011 - anubis Likes this wine:

Nice and lightish GSM. (Grenache 54%, Mataro 34.5%, Shiraz 11.5%). Had two bottles, first decantered 90 minutes prior to drinking, 2nd was popped and poured. First was smoother then the 2nd, but the 2nd opened up quickly. Good drinking now and will hold up for another couple of years. [cork, 14.8% alc]

8/27/2011 - anubis Likes this wine:

Oak was less obvious, even more integrated and balanced in this one. Definitely has a few more years left with this one. [screwcap, 13.0% alc]

8/5/2011 - anubis Likes this wine:

Very pale straw colour. Citrus nose. Bit bitey up front, long lasting in mouth. Semillon balances the Sauv Blanc. Good with Thai. [screwcap, 12.5% alc]

8/3/2011 - anubis Likes this wine:

Once again this wine is very nice, one of my favourites at the price point. Balanced, even with the 15% alc. Goes nicely with BBQ beef. Still happy [my only remaining] bottle will last another couple of years. [screwcap, 15.0% alc]

7/16/2011 - anubis Likes this wine:

Very dark blackberry colour. Fruity up front and dwindles towards the back of mouth. Some balanced tannins. [screwcap, 14% alc]

7/15/2011 - anubis wrote:

A little bit washed out, lowish alc could contribute. Taste didn't last long in the mouth. Probably wouldn't hurt to give it another year or two in the bottle. [screwcap, 11% alc]

7/9/2011 - anubis Likes this wine:

Yet another great example of the sparkling Black Shiraz. Sweetness is Just right. Ready to drink now, but will hold for a number of years yet.

6/11/2011 - anubis wrote:

In the style of a light red, bright garnish colour, almost Pinot Noir'ish. A little bit of spiciness and has some tannins like the 2008 model. Medium body, and loses it's mouth about midway. Made from crushing Grenache and Mataro onto Alicante skins and fermenting them together. Good easy to drink light red. Could be let sit a while to let the tannins out. [screwcap, 12.5% alc]

6/10/2011 - anubis wrote:

Seemed a bit sweeter this time around, otherwise consistent with previous note.

5/20/2011 - anubis Likes this wine:

Sweet style of Reisling, light on alcohol, but you wouldn't know it. [screwcap, 9% alc]

5/21/2011 - anubis wrote:

Consistent with previous notes. Has improved again since last opened. Improve rating by one.

5/21/2011 - anubis wrote:

Musty with early on. Earthy tastes with fair bit of oak. Long in mouth. [screwcap, 13.5% alc]

5/6/2011 - anubis wrote:

Very sharp and minerally taste. Not to my taste. Not rating it as it's not to my taste, which is not the wines fault.

4/1/2011 - anubis Does not like this wine:

Not a patch on a real sav blanc. Fruit is very subdued, so if you are after a typical sav blanc taste, you'll be disappointed. Low alcohol and low calories are it's selling point. [screwcap, 9.5% alc]

3/31/2011 - anubis Likes this wine:

Very young to drink, very sharp on first taste. Decanted and let air for about an hour and it opened up nicely and lost it's sharpness whilst drinking over he next hour. Worth putting aside for a few years.

3/4/2011 - anubis Likes this wine:

Typical Rockford fronti. Fruit is slightly subdued compared to other years, but is well balanced. Good summer/spicy food wine. Drink now. [screwcap, 10.1% alc]

3/4/2011 - anubis wrote:

Lots of oak, but for those who can handle it, it is well integrated. Good for a number of years yet. [screwcap, 13.0% alc]

1/16/2011 - anubis Likes this wine:

Typical medium cherry colour for Pinot Nior's. Nice bouquet. Young fruit taste and medium length in mouth. [screwcap, 14% alc]

1/9/2011 - anubis wrote:

Nothing to shout about. Maybe too young. Also, first experience with Zinfandel. Bumping next drink date to 2012 [screwcap, 14.5% alc].

1/14/2011 - anubis wrote:

This one seemed to have less fruit and wasn't as tasty as previous bottles. Still have 3 left, lets see how they come up. Dropped latest drinking back to 2010 as it could be past it's best.

1/7/2011 - anubis Likes this wine:

Score and comments as per previous tasting note. Wine has held up well over the last year. As always, this wine goes very well with spicy food, especially Thai. Alas, last of my 2009 stock.

12/30/2010 - anubis wrote:

Pop and poured to try to see if I will purchase more. Too young. Has a bit of an initial tart taste. Needs a lot more age and/or airing before drinking. Will give a miss for the time being.
Day 2: Tartiness gone, has a very earthy initial taste. Not bad now, but still too young, needs two more years. Increased rating from 80 to 82.